Improvement in buckles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEG JOHN MOLELLAN, OF CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IM PROVEMENT IN BUCKLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,590, dated July 24, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concerns Be it known that I, JOHN MGLELLAN, of Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked y thereon.

My invention consists of a plate on which slides. a wedgeshaped catch, and to which are secured two staplelike guards,`the whole being constructed and arranged for the reception and retention of two straps, substantially as described hereinafter.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, showing the ends of two straps connected by my improved buckle; and Fig. 2 is a plan view.

A is a metal plate, in which are two openings, a and b, the former being near one end of the plate,and the latter extending along the center of the same, and being inclined outward toward the lower side, for a purposedescribed hereinafter. To the top of the plate are secured staple-like guards B and C, which are situated near the opposite ends of the opening b. Near each edge of the plate A is a rib, c, and between the ribs slide a wedge-shaped catch, F, the thick end of which is nearest the guard B, and on the under side of the catch is a projection, e, the beveled head of which is adapted to slide in the opening b, and retains the catch in contact with the plate.

rBhe plateAis secured to the end of a strap, X, by passing the latter through the opening a and doubling and stitching it.

When it is desired to connect a strap,-X, to another strap, Y, the latter is passed beneath the guard C and pushed forward to the extent desired. The catch is then moved toward the guard C, to the position shown in Fig. l, the strap Y being' thus coniined between the upper corner of the catch and the under side of the guard. The end of the strap is then passed beneath the guard B and through the A retaining-bands a:

In moving the catch F to the position shown in the drawings its sharp upper edge is forced to such an extent into the under side ot' the strap that when any force is exerted to draw the latter outward it will also carry the block farther beneath the guard C, the strap being thus more firmly wedged between the two than at rst.

The catch F may be moved toward the groove B, when the straps are to be disconnected, by applying pressure to the projection e so as to force the block in the direction required.

A buckle of the character above described is simple in its construction and can be manufactured at a comparatively tritlin g cost. It is not liable to get out of order, and is capable of bearing a great strain without breaking, so that it is particularly serviceable for securing the straps of harness or other heavy straps.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters PatentrIhe plate A, with its guards B and O, in combination with the sliding catch F, the whole being constructed and arranged for the reception and retention ot straps X Y, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN MCLELLAN.v

Witnesses: GEORGE J. BALsLY,

.TERE 000K. 

